Appleby, acting as the buyer's offshore counsel, successfully assisted with the execution of merger agreement for the privatisation of Bright Scholar Education Holdings Limited ("Bright Scholar", NYSE: BEDU) on October 13, 2025. Upon completion of the merger, Bright Scholar will be delisted from the New York Stock Exchange.
Bright Scholar is a globally influential education group. The business of Bright Scholar includes overseas K12 education and after-school complementary. The Overseas K12 education includes several K12 schools, art academy, language training institutions, and summer schools in the United Kingdom and the United States. The after-school complementary education has 8 sub-brand businesses, served over 80,000 elite families in the first and second tier cities in total, reaching more than 90 countries and regions.
Appleby served as the offshore legal counsel to the buyer consortium, providing Cayman legal services in the privatisation transaction of Bright Scholar.
This high profile transaction was led by Appleby's Hong Kong and Shanghai Managing Partner David Bulley, Shanghai corporate partner Hannah Yao, and Hong Kong Senior Associate Alejandra Gonzalez Saucedo. Partners and associates from both offices, including Ashley Chung, Mandy Qi, and Koey Wang, assisted with offshore legal issues involved in the transaction.
Regarding the transaction, Hannah Yao, Shanghai Corporate Partner, commented: "Bright Scholar's privatisation reflects cross-border confidence in China's education sector. Appleby's offshore expertise ensured seamless execution of Merger Agreement for the buyer consortium, underscoring our strength in complex international M&A."